Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in the Gaza Strip to discuss reconstruction efforts ahead of a Palestinian donor conference this week.

Representatives for Mr. Blair say he is expected to meet with Gaza community members, and not members of Hamas. The visit to Gaza is Mr. Blair's first since he was appointed to represent the Middle East peacemaking Quartet of the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

The group is expected to meet on the sidelines of Monday's conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The conference aims to raise money to help rebuild the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said any money raised would be given to the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas declared unilateral cease-fires in January, following Israel's three-week offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials are expected to ask for $2.8 billion to rebuild Gaza.